The dramatic headlines Wednesday about Peyton Barber’s motivations for declaring for the NFL draft are at odds with the reality of a domestic situation not without its complications according to his father.

Peyton Barber made waves when he told reporters at the NFL scouting combine the reason he declared for this year’s draft.

“My mother is homeless right now,” Barber said. “Right now she’s staying with my sister. It’s her and her three kids staying in an apartment back home.”

Peyton’s father Ken painted a different picture in January, two days after his son made the announcement he was forgoing his final two years of eligibility at Auburn.

In a lengthy interview about the process with the Ledger-Enquirer, Ken Barber addressed his son’s motivation and specifically denied that finances played any part in the discussion.

“This is not a decision cause he has to support family,” Ken Barber said. “He’s eating well, doesn’t have to worry about his clothes or staying warm at night.”

Peyton’s former running backs coach at Milton High School Gary Sylvestri never knew anyone in the Barber family to be homeless.

“In the time I’ve known the family going back to the three years I coached Peyton in high school Lori always had an apartment or place to live,” Sylvestri said. “We would always be picking up players to drive them to or from practice, and we would always be dropping Peyton off to one of his parents.”

Ken Barber understands his son’s desire to provide financial stability for Lori Barber, but denies that her living situation pushed Peyton into the draft.

“This was not done to take care of his mom,” Ken Barber said. “I want to make this totally clear. His mom isn’t down and out. He doesn’t have to take care of his family. It’s been totally misunderstood.”

Barber is projected to be a late-round pick in the draft, but has a chance at the combine to improve his draft status.

On Friday, the running backs at the combine go through position-specific drills along with tests that include the 40-yard dash, bench press, vertical jump and 20-yard shuttle. Barber spent the weeks leading up to the event training at the IMG Academy in Florida.

The combine also gives NFL executives, coaching staffs and scouts from all 32 teams the chance to evaluate collegiate prospects through an interview process and medical exams.

Barber is one of eight former Auburn players at this year’s combine in Indianapolis and one of three players (Shon Coleman and Avery Young) who declared early for the draft.

“At the end of the day this weekend is all about him showcasing his ability,” Sylvestri said. “Everybody is looking for a story, but these are distractions he doesn’t need. I don’t think anybody had an ill intent, but it sometimes happens when there is a media blitz.”

War Eagle Extra

Mike Niziolek joins the Ledger-Enquirer after spending the past three years with MLive.com. The past year he covered Eastern Michigan University athletics, including football and recruiting. He also filled in as a backup writer for the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings and University of Michigan. Mike is a 2004 graduate of Michigan State.